US Congress Defends Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani!

The American Center For Law and Justice has released an article listing all U.S. Congressmen who are defending Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and demanding his release. You can see the full list here. Among them, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has finally released a statement condemning Iran's actions against its people:

The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the Iranian government’s continued repression of its people. Despite statements from Iran’s Supreme Leader and President claiming support for the rights and freedoms of Iranian citizens and people in the region, the government continues its crackdown on all forms of dissent, belief, and assembly.

We are particularly concerned by reports that Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing execution on charges of apostasy for refusing to recant his faith. This comes amid a harsh onslaught against followers of diverse faiths....

The United States stands with the international community and all Iranians against the Iranian government’s hypocritical statements and actions, and we continue to call for a government that respects the human rights and freedom of all those living in Iran.

In the video below, however, Jordan Sekulow rightly points out that while this statement condemns Iran's treatment toward Pastor Youcef, it does not express concern for his release. "It is the duty of the State Department to do more," Jordan stated.

Update: Due to the pressure it is receiving from the publicizing of Pastor Nadarkhani's case, the Iranian authorities have now "changed" the story to say that Pastor Youcef is guilty of rape and therefore he is going to be executed. 

“We’re trying to determine if this is the state-controlled media throwing it out there,” said Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).  “There’s been no mention of any other charges than apostasy in trial documents.” ....

FoxNews.com obtained a copy of the ruling and there is not a single mention of rape or extortion allegations.

While this comes as a potential blow to Pastor Youcef's case (as the Iranian government could use it to their advantage), it does show that the Iranian government is well aware of his situation, even if they are making excuses to carry out his execution.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and his family. And keep spreading Pastor Youcef's story so that we can continue to keep pressure on the Iranian government in this case. Remember, "Attempts to stifle the media on sensitive matters are common in Iran, and.... until Pastor Youcef walks free, we need to continue to push for his immediate and unconditional release."